.223 FC headstamp - Page 1

Armory » Reloading

Posted: 11/14/2011 6:23:32 PM EDT

With all of the nightmare stories about FC headstamps floating around. Would I be safe to load ones that were made from 2007your to present? I have over 50k80k of them.

Posted: 11/14/2011 6:35:29 PM EDT

[#1]

No it wouldn't. Send them to me for disposal!

If the cases are once fired you could reload all of them. Just check for length & if you want to be really fussy sort them into batches.

Posted: 11/14/2011 6:39:45 PM EDT

[#2]

I load it and have never had any issues.

Posted: 11/14/2011 6:42:32 PM EDT

[#3]

The problem I have with FC is the primer pockets. Every time I reload them I throw maybe 10% away because the primer pockets are loose.

Posted: 11/14/2011 7:18:40 PM EDT

[#4]

Small letter FC has been fine.
Large letter FC has been problematic.

Posted: 11/14/2011 8:16:30 PM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
With all of the nightmare stories about FC headstamps floating around. Would I be safe to load ones that were made from 2007your to present? I have over 50k80k of them.

Measure the web thickness of a sample from each year, then decide.

Lots of primer crimps to remove ...

Posted: 11/15/2011 7:00:13 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Small letter FC has been fine.
Large letter FC has been problematic.

Would you please clarify for me?

By small letter, do you mean lowercase?

Thanks in advance.

Posted: 11/15/2011 7:59:38 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Small letter FC has been fine.
Large letter FC has been problematic.

Would you please clarify for me?

By small letter, do you mean lowercase?

Thanks in advance.

Federal Brass with LARGE headstamp on left, small headstamp on right.
the brass on the left (Large––headstamp) has a web thickness of less than .170 while the brass on the right (small headstamp) is .186 on average. .186 is typical for LC Brass, Win, and other brass considered to be top tier brass. The large headstamped brass will have a loose primer pocket after one or two firings and there are many reports of case head seperation. Personally I load the large headstamped brass once for use in my bolt gun then scrap it.
ETA: I also have FC Brass which has a date code rather than the "223 REM" that has the small text headstamp. Its the good stuff also. Dryflash has a method describing how and why to measure web thickness up in the tacked threads. Every reloader should learn to make a thickness measurement.

Posted: 11/15/2011 8:10:26 AM EDT

[#8]

Thanks much! I appreciate the clarification and picture. Will look into the web advice as well.

Quoted:

Quoted:
Small letter FC has been fine.
Large letter FC has been problematic.

Would you please clarify for me?

By small letter, do you mean lowercase?

Thanks in advance.

Federal Brass with LARGE headstamp on left, small headstamp on right.
the brass on the left (Large––headstamp) has a web thickness of less than .170 while the brass on the right (small headstamp) is .186 on average. .186 is typical for LC Brass, Win, and other brass considered to be top tier brass. The large headstamped brass will have a loose primer pocket after one or two firings and there are many reports of case head seperation. Personally I load the large headstamped brass once for use in my bolt gun then scrap it.
ETA: I also have FC Brass which has a date code rather than the "223 REM" that has the small text headstamp. Its the good stuff also. Dryflash has a method describing how and why to measure web thickness up in the tacked threads. Every reloader should learn to make a thickness measurement.

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af6/UpstateEd/IMG_4359.jpg

Posted: 11/15/2011 8:51:37 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Small letter FC has been fine.
Large letter FC has been problematic.

Would you please clarify for me?

By small letter, do you mean lowercase?

Thanks in advance.

Federal Brass with LARGE headstamp on left, small headstamp on right.
the brass on the left (Large––headstamp) has a web thickness of less than .170 while the brass on the right (small headstamp) is .186 on average. .186 is typical for LC Brass, Win, and other brass considered to be top tier brass. The large headstamped brass will have a loose primer pocket after one or two firings and there are many reports of case head seperation. Personally I load the large headstamped brass once for use in my bolt gun then scrap it.
ETA: I also have FC Brass which has a date code rather than the "223 REM" that has the small text headstamp. Its the good stuff also. Dryflash has a method describing how and why to measure web thickness up in the tacked threads. Every reloader should learn to make a thickness measurement.

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af6/UpstateEd/IMG_4359.jpg

Couldn't have said it better.

Posted: 11/15/2011 8:56:08 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
The problem I have with FC is the primer pockets. Every time I reload them I throw maybe 10% away because the primer pockets are loose.

Same here, I only reload it once.

Posted: 11/15/2011 12:44:52 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Small letter FC has been fine.
Large letter FC has been problematic.

Would you please clarify for me?

By small letter, do you mean lowercase?

Thanks in advance.

Federal Brass with LARGE headstamp on left, small headstamp on right.
the brass on the left (Large––headstamp) has a web thickness of less than .170 while the brass on the right (small headstamp) is .186 on average. .186 is typical for LC Brass, Win, and other brass considered to be top tier brass. The large headstamped brass will have a loose primer pocket after one or two firings and there are many reports of case head seperation. Personally I load the large headstamped brass once for use in my bolt gun then scrap it.
ETA: I also have FC Brass which has a date code rather than the "223 REM" that has the small text headstamp. Its the good stuff also.

dryflash3 has a method describing how and why to measure web thickness up in the tacked threads. Every reloader should learn to make a thickness measurement.

http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af6/UpstateEd/IMG_4359.jpg

Couldn't have said it better.

5th post down in this Thread I posted my method.

eta teaser pics,

Cases were cut away to show the process. Old FC was dangerous thin brass.

Any measurement less than .185 is scrap in my world. YMMV

Posted: 11/15/2011 4:22:27 PM EDT

[#12]

Not to change the subject....BUT.....Can you post a pic of your stock pile, I would love to see what 50 to 80k of brass look like. I have a hard time storing what I have.